APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING AN OPENING IN PATIENT'S TISSUE

Abstract

A surgical instrument system for use in a surgical procedure is disclosed. The surgical instrument system may include an instrument configured to puncture the tissue of a patient and detect when the instrument has entered a lumen of the patient's body. Liquid may be present in the lumen or the lumen may be devoid of liquid or tissue. The instrument is configured to determine when the needle tip is engaged with a portion of patient's tissue and determine when the needle tip has exited that portion of the patient's tissue by detecting changes in properties of the tissue, specifically, electrical resistance.

Claims

1. A method for performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising: inserting a needle tip of a surgical instrument into a tissue of a patient, advancing the needle tip through the tissue, monitoring an indicator of the surgical instrument while advancing the needle tip through the tissue, and maintaining a position of the surgical instrument in response to the indicator indicating the needle tip has entered a target lumen of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument is operable to automatically retract the needle tip when the needle tip has entered the target lumen of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes a control circuit operable to measure a change in electrical resistance to determine when the needle tip has entered the target lumen of the patient and to activate the indicator to indicate the needle tip has entered the target lumen of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes a control circuit operable to measure a change in one or more electrical properties to determine when the needle tip has entered the target lumen of the patient and to activate the indicator to indicate the needle tip has entered the target lumen of the patient.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is operable to apply an electrical charge to a plate positioned at the needle tip.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the target lumen is devoid of liquid and of tissue.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a liquid is present in the target lumen.

8. A method for performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising: energizing a sensor circuit of a surgical instrument including a needle tip configured for insertion into a tissue of a patient, monitoring an electrical signal received from the sensor circuit, energizing an indicator in a first state when an electrical resistance value indicated by the electrical signal is less than a predetermined value corresponding to the needle tip being positioned in the tissue of the patient, energizing the indicator in a second state when the resistance value indicated by the electrical signal is greater than a predetermined threshold corresponding to the needle tip being positioned in a lumen of the patient, and energizing a retraction mechanism of the surgical instrument to move the needle tip away from the lumen of the patient.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising activating a timer when the resistance value indicated by the electrical signal is less than the predetermined value, wherein energizing the indicator in the first state includes energizing the indicator in the first state after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the activation of the timer.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising activating a timer when the resistance value indicated by the electrical signal is greater than the predetermined threshold, wherein energizing the retraction mechanism of the surgical instrument includes energizing the retraction mechanism of the surgical instrument after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the activation of the timer.

11. A method for performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising: energizing an indicator of a surgical instrument to provide a first indication to a user when a needle tip is engaged with a portion of tissue of a patient, and energizing the indicator to provide a second indication different from the first indication in response to the needle tip exiting the portion of tissue.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically retracting the needle tip in response to the needle tip exiting the portion of tissue.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein energizing the indicator to provide the second indication different from the first indication in response to the needle tip exiting the portion of tissue comprises energizing the indicator when the needle tip has entered a target lumen of the patient.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein energizing the indicator to provide the second indication different from the first indication in response to the needle tip exiting the portion of tissue includes energizing the indicator when the needle tip has entered another portion of the patient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures, in which:

[0063] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a surgical instrument system for use in performing a surgical procedure;

[0064] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of some of the components of the system of FIG. 1;

[0065] FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit diagram of an electrical circuit of the surgical instrument system of FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another surgical instrument system;

[0067] FIG. 4A is a partial cross-section elevation view of a detail of FIG. 4;

[0068] FIGS. 5-6 are partial cross-sectional plan views of a surgical instrument of the instrument system of FIG. 4; and

[0069] FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an electrical circuit of the surgical instrument system of FIG. 4;

[0070] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the surgical instrument of FIGS. 4-7 positioned for insertion into a patient's soft tissue;

[0071] FIG. 9 illustrates the surgical instrument of FIGS. 4-7 as it enters a lumen of the patient;

[0072] FIG. 10 illustrates the surgical instrument of FIGS. 4-7 after the needle of the surgical instrument has been retracted; and

[0073] FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of an electrical circuit for the surgical instrument system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been illustrated by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0075] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a surgical instrument system 10 configured for insertion into the soft tissue of a patient is illustrated. Illustratively, the surgical instrument 10 may be use to form a puncture between the skin of the neck and the anterior wall of the trachea of a patient, but it should be appreciated that the surgical instrument 10 may be used to form other punctures, incisions, or openings in the patient's tissue. The surgical instrument system 10 includes an elongated needle body 12 that extends from a proximal end 14 to a distal end 16. A needle tip 18 configured to pierce the tissue is formed at the distal end 16 of the body 12. The needle body 12 has a lumen or passageway 20 extending through the ends 14, 16, as shown in FIG. 2. In the illustrative embodiment, a catheter may be inserted into the passageway 20 to provide, for example, epidural anesthesia, to a patient. The surgical instrument system 10 also includes a probe 28 that is sized to be positioned in the passageway 20 of the needle 12. The probe 28 is connected to an indicator 30 that is configured to notify a user that the needle tip 18 has penetrated the tissue, as described in greater detail below.

[0076] The probe 28 includes a base 32 and a shaft 36 that extends distally away from the base 32 to a tip 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 36 is a cannula formed from an electrically conductive material. The tip 38 and the shaft 36 are integral, but it should be appreciated that in other embodiments the tip 38 and the shaft 36 may be formed as separate components and assembled. As shown in FIG. 2, the probe 28 includes a conductor plate 40 that is positioned in the distal opening 42 of the tip 38. In the illustrative embodiment, the plate 40 is electrically insulated from the tip 38 by a non-conductive film 44. In the illustrative embodiment, the film 44 is a ring having a predetermined thickness that surrounds the plate 40. In other embodiments, the shaft may be formed from a non-conductive material such as ceramic or plastic to insulate the plate. The plate 40 and the film 44 cooperate to cover the opening 42 such that fluid is prevented from entering the tip 38. When a patient's tissue contacts the conductor plate 40, electrical circuitry 50 of the system 10 is operable to detect the change in electrical resistance caused by the contact with the tissue, as described in greater detail below.

[0077] Returning to FIG. 1, the system 10 includes a control box 52 that houses the electrical circuitry 50, including the indicator 30. In the illustrative embodiment, the control box 52 has a power switch 54 that may be toggled to energize the electrical circuitry 50. A cable 56 connects the electrical circuitry 50 with the probe 28.

[0078] Referring now to FIG. 3, the electrical circuitry 50 for the system 10 is shown in greater detail. In the illustrative embodiment, the circuitry 50 is operable to detect a change in electrical resistance that is produced when the probe tip 38 exits one type of tissue and enters another type of tissue or lumen, as described in greater detail below.

[0079] The circuitry 50 includes a microprocessor 60 such as, for example, an 8-Bit AVR 16 MHz Processor (ATMEGA32U4) commercially available from Atmel Corporation. The microprocessor 60 is attached a circuit 62 that also includes various terminals 64 connected to other circuitry 50. An I/O port 66 such as, for example, a USB port, is attached to the circuit 62 to permit a user to upload software and data to, and download from, the microprocessor 60. Illustratively, the microprocessor 60, the circuit 62, and the I/O port 66 are available in a Teensy 2.0 USB-based microcontroller development system. A voltage supply includes two 3 VDC batteries 68, the anodes of which are coupled to one terminal 70 of the power switch 54. The other terminal 72 of switch 54 is coupled to the 5V terminal of the circuit 62 and to the anode of a Power Indicator LED 74. The cathode of the Power Indicator LED 74 is coupled to the cathodes of the batteries 68 and to the ground (GND) terminal of the circuit 62 at the terminal 76.

[0080] The circuitry 50 also includes a Low Battery LED 78, which is energized by the microprocessor 60 when battery voltage drops below a predetermined threshold. The cathode of the LED 78 is connected through a 220 resistor 80 to the 19 terminal of the circuit 62. The anode of the LED 78 is connected to the GND terminal of the circuit 62 and an anode of the indicator LED 30. The cathode of the LED 30 is connected to the 13 terminal of the circuit 62 through another 220 resistor 84.

[0081] The shaft 36 of the probe 28 is coupled via a wire 90 to a ground terminal of the circuit 62. The conductor plate 40 of the tip 38 is coupled via a wire 92 through a 4.7 k resistor to the 15 terminal and the 5 V terminal of the circuit 62.

[0082] Illustratively, the microprocessor 60 applies 4.7 V dc to the conductor plate 40 while the shaft 36 is connected to ground. The microprocessor 60 is programmed to measure the resistance received by the circuit 62 at a controlled distance. In the illustrative embodiment, the distance is equal to a 0.5 millimeter gap between the conductor plate 40 and the cutting end of the shaft 36 that is created by the film 44. In the illustrative embodiment, the 0.5 millimeter gap corresponds to the thickness of the film ring 44. When the conductor plate 40 exits the patient's tissue and enters a liquid-filled or empty target lumen, the resistance sensed at the conductor plate 40 experiences a step change, which the microprocessor 60 is programmed to register as indicating, for example, that the tip 38 has penetrated a lumen. The microprocessor 60 is programmed to switch the 13 terminal continuously high, thereby turning the indicator LED 30 continuously on.

[0083] When the probe tip 38 engages the patient's tissue, the resistance experienced by circuit changes. In the illustrative embodiment, the microprocessor 60 is programmed to consecutively toggle the 13 terminal high and low, thereby causing the LED 30 to flash on and off to indicate to the user that the instrument system 10 is armed. As the needle 12 (and hence the probe 38) is advanced into the spinal column, the conductor plate 40 remains engaged with the patient's tissue.

[0084] When the probe tip 38 reaches, and protrudes into, the target lumen (e.g., the interior of a patient's spinal column or trachea), the electrical resistance in the circuit changes sharply, and the microprocessor 60 is programmed to switch the 13 terminal continuously high, thereby turning the indicator LED 30 continuously on to inform the user to hold the needle 12 in position. The user may then remove the probe 28 from the lumen 20 of the needle 12 while leaving the needle 12 inserted into the patient's tissue. The user may then use the lumen 20 to position, for example, a catheter to provide fluids to the patient.

[0085] Referring now to FIG. 4, another instrument system 110 configured for insertion into the soft tissue of a patient is illustrated. The system 110 is also configured for forming and dilating an opening in a patient's tissue is shown. The instrument system 110 includes a puncture instrument 112 and a balloon catheter 114 that is removably coupled to the puncture instrument. An exemplary balloon catheter for use in the system 110 is shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/996,426, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The instrument system 110 may be used, for example, to create a puncture or incision in a tracheal wall of a patient and dilate the incision to receive a prosthesis such as, for example, a tracheostomy tube to form an air passageway for the patient. For convenience, the balloon catheter 114 is not shown in the illustrations of FIGS. 5-10.

[0086] Illustratively, the puncture instrument 112 may be used to form a puncture between the skin of the neck and the anterior wall of the trachea of a patient, but it should be appreciated that the puncture instrument 112 may be used to form other punctures, incisions, or openings in the patient's tissue. As shown in FIG. 4, the puncture instrument 112 includes an elongated body 120 having a proximal end 122 and a distal end 124. A needle tip 126 configured to pierce the tissue is formed at the distal end 124 of the body 120. As described in greater detail below, the puncture instrument 112 also includes an indicator 128 configured to notify a user that the needle tip 126 has penetrated the tissue and an automatic needle retraction mechanism 130 operable quickly to retract the needle tip 126 a short distance after the needle tip 126 has penetrated the tissue.

[0087] The elongated body 120 includes a handle 132 extending from the proximal end 122 to a distal handle end 134. A shaft 136 extends distally away from the handle 132 to the needle tip 126. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 136 is a cannula formed from a metallic material. In other embodiments, the shaft may be formed from a ceramic or plastic material. The needle tip 126 and the shaft 136 are integral, but it should be appreciated that in other embodiments the needle tip 126 and the shaft 136 may be formed as separate components and assembled.

[0088] The handle 132 illustratively includes an upper housing 140 that is configured to be coupled to a lower housing 142. The indicator 128 includes a light source such as, for example, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) 146 that is illustratively visible through an opening in the upper housing 140. The housings 140, 142 cooperate to define a chamber in which other electrical circuitry 148 is positioned. The circuitry 148 is operable to energize the LED 146 to provide a visual output to the user. In other embodiments, the indicator 128 may include other electrical circuitry to provide an audible output to the user. The puncture instrument 112 also includes a power switch 150, which is operable to supply power to the electrical circuitry 148 including LEDs 146.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 5, the electrical circuitry 148 includes a battery pack 152 positioned at one end of the handle 132 and the automatic needle retraction mechanism 160, which is operable to retract the needle tip 126 a short distance after the needle tip 126 has penetrated the tissue. In illustrative embodiment, the distance is 8 millimeters. A metallic plate (not shown) is positioned in handle 132 is formed from copper and is configured to provide a ground plane for the electrical circuitry 148, which makes the user the ground for the electrical circuitry.

[0090] Returning to FIG. 4A, the instrument 112 also includes a conductor plate 164 that is positioned in the distal opening 166 of the needle tip 126. In the illustrative embodiment, the plate 164 is a metallic shaft that is electrically insulated from the needle tip 126 by a non-conductive film 168. In the illustrative embodiment, the film 44 is a cylindrical ring having a predetermined thickness that surrounds the plate 40. In other embodiments, the needle tip and/or needle shaft may be formed from a non-conductive material such as, for example, ceramic or plastic to electrically insulate the plate. The shaft 164 and the film 168 cooperate to cover the opening 166 such that fluid is prevented from entering the needle tip 126. A wire or conductor 170 connects the shaft 164 to the electrical circuitry 148, and another wire or conductor 172 connects the outer cannula shaft 136 to the electrical circuitry 148. When a patient's tissue contacts the conductor plate 164, the electrical circuitry 148 is operable to detect the change in electrical resistance caused by the contact with the tissue, as described in greater detail below.

[0091] As described above, the instrument 112 includes an automatic needle retraction mechanism 160 operable to retract the needle tip 126 a short distance after the needle tip 126 has penetrated the tissue. As shown in FIG. 5, the needle retraction mechanism 160 includes an actuator 180. In the illustrative embodiment, the actuator 180 is a linear actuator such as, for example, a solenoid, which includes an output shaft 182 operable to move along a straight line. An exemplary actuator is the Uxcell a14092600ux0438 Open Frame Actuator, which is electrically-operated. In other embodiments, the actuator may be embodied as an electric motor, electromagnet, or other electromechanical device operable to move the locking arm 184, as described in greater detail below. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking arm 184 that maintains the needle shaft 136 in an extended position.

[0092] The needle shaft 136 extends through an opening 186 defined in the distal handle end 134, and the shaft 136 includes a proximal end 190 that is secured to a mounting bracket 192 positioned in the handle 132. The mounting bracket 192 includes a cylindrical body 194 and a slide plate 196 that extends outwardly from the body 194. As shown in FIG. 6, an aperture 198 is defined at one end of the cylindrical body 194, which receives the proximal end 190 of the shaft 136 and provides a passageway through which the connecting wire 170 passes to connect the conductor plate 164 to the other electrical circuitry 148.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 5, the edges of the slide plate 196 are received in a pair of guide slots 200 defined in the handle 132, which guide the movement of the mounting bracket 192 as the needle tip 126 is retracted. A biasing element such as, for example, a spring 202 positioned between the slide plate 196 and the distal handle end 134. In the illustrative embodiment, the spring 202 is configured to bias the slide plate 196 away from the distal handle end 134 and hence bias the needle tip 126 is the retracted position.

[0094] A rod 204 extends between the cylindrical body 194 and the locking arm 184. As shown in FIG. 6, the rod 204 is received in an aperture 206 defined in the locking arm 184. The locking arm 184 includes a sleeve 208 positioned in the aperture 206, and the rod 204 engages the sleeve 208 when the needle shaft 136 is an extended position. In the illustrative embodiment, the sleeve 208 is formed from a metallic material such as, for example, steel. A pivot pin 212 extends outwardly from the lower housing 142 and is received in a bore defined in the locking arm 184 near an end 216. The retraction mechanism 160 also includes another biasing element, illustratively embodied as an elastic band 220, which is coupled to the shaft end 216 and the lower housing 142.

[0095] When the needle shaft 136 is in its extended position and ready for insertion into a patient's tissue, the sleeve 208 is initially engaged with the rod 204, as shown in FIG. 6. The band 220 applies a force to the locking arm 184 to bias in the position shown in FIG. 6 to keep the rod 204 engaged with the sleeve 208, thereby resisting the force exerted by the spring 202 against the slide plate 196 and maintaining the needle shaft 136 in the extended position.

[0096] As described above, the automatic needle retraction mechanism 130 is operable to quickly retract the needle tip 126 a short distance after the needle tip 126 has penetrated the tissue. To do so, the linear actuator 180 is energized to advance its shaft 182 into contact with the locking arm 184, thereby causing the arm 184 to pivot about the pin 212 as indicated by arrow 222. As the arm 184 pivots, the end of the rod 204 disengages from the sleeve 208 and moves toward the center of the aperture 206. When the rod 204 disengages from the sleeve 208, the spring 202 urges the mounting bracket 192 in the direction indicated by arrow 224 in FIG. 6. As the mounting bracket 192 moves, the needle tip 126 retracts away from the opposite wall of the patient's lumen.

[0097] Referring now to FIG. 7, the electrical circuitry 148 is shown. As described above, the electrical circuitry 148 is operable to detect a change in electrical resistance that is produced when the needle tip 126 exits one type of tissue and enters another type of tissue or lumen, as described in greater detail below. In that way, the electrical circuitry 148 functions as a sensor.

[0098] The circuitry 148 includes a microprocessor 230 such as, for example, an 8-Bit AVR 16 MHz Processor (ATMEGA32U4), which is commercially available from Atmel Corporation. The microprocessor 230 is attached a circuit 232 that also includes various terminals 234 connected to other circuitry 148. An I/O port 236 such as, for example, a USB port, is attached to the circuit 232 to permit a user to upload software and data to, and download from, the microprocessor 230. Illustratively, the microprocessor 230, the circuit 232, and the I/O port 236 are available in a Teensy 2.0 USB-based microcontroller development system. A voltage supply includes a single 9 VDC battery 152, the anode of which is coupled to one terminal 260 of the power switch 150. The other terminal 262 of switch 150 is coupled to a voltage regulator 154 and to the anode of a Power Indicator LED 264 of the LEDs 146 through a 220 resistor 156. As shown in FIG. 7, the cathode of the Power Indicator LED 264 is coupled to the cathode of the battery 152 and to the GND terminal of the circuit 232. In the illustrative embodiment, the voltage regulator 154 is a Texas Instruments LP2981 regulator. The voltage regulator 154 is connected to the 5 V terminal of the circuit 232 and is configured to condition the 9 VDC battery voltage to 5 volts.

[0099] The circuitry 148 also includes a Low Battery LED 270, which is energized by the microprocessor 230 when battery voltage drops below a predetermined threshold. The cathode of the LED 270 is connected through a 220 resistor 272 to the 13 terminal of the circuit 232. The anode of the LED 270 is connected to the GND terminal of the circuit 232 and an anode of the penetration indicator LED 274. The cathode of the LED 274 is connected to the 13 terminal of the circuit 232 through another 220 resistor 276. A battery monitor (not shown) may be connected to another terminal of the circuit 232.

[0100] The shaft 136 of the instrument 112 is coupled via a wire 172 to a ground terminal of the circuit 232. The conductor plate 164 in the tip 126 is coupled via a wire 170 through a 68 resistor 280 and a 100 k resistor 282 to the 18 terminal and the 5 V terminal of the circuit 232. The shaft 136 and the plate 164 form part of the sensor circuit used to detect when the needle tip 126 has penetrated a lumen. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments the sensor circuit may include a pair of conductor plates, which are electrically isolated from one another, and the elongated shaft may be formed from a non-conductive material.

[0101] The linear actuator 180 is connected to the anodes of the LEDs 270, 274 and the GND terminal of the circuit 232. The linear actuator 180 is also connected to a relay switch 290, which is positioned between the actuator 180 and the terminal 262 of the switch 150. The relay switch 290 is also connected to the 17 terminal of the circuit 232 and to the GND terminal, as shown in FIG. 7. The circuitry 148 also includes a snubber diode 292 that is connected between the positive and negative poles of the actuator 180 and the power supply 152. As shown in FIG. 7, the cathode 294 of the diode 292 is connected to the relay switch 290, while the anode 296 of the diode 292 is connected to the linear actuator 180 and the power supply 152.

[0102] Illustratively, the microprocessor 230 applies 4.7 VDC to the conductor plate 164 while the shaft 136 is connected to ground (e.g., the user's hand). The microprocessor 230 is programmed to measure the electrical resistance in the circuit 232 at a controlled distance. In the illustrative embodiment, the distance is equal to a 0.5 millimeter gap between the conductor plate 164 and the cutting end of the shaft 136 that is created the non-conductive film 168. In the illustrative embodiment, the 0.5 millimeter gap corresponds to the thickness of the film ring 168. During operation, when the conductor plate 164 exits the patient's tissue and enters a liquid-filled or empty target lumen, the resistance sensed at the conductor plate 164 experiences a step change, which the microprocessor 230 is programmed to register as indicating, for example, that the tip 126 has penetrated a lumen. The microprocessor 230 is programmed to switch the 13 terminal continuously high, thereby turning the indicator LED 274 continuously on.

[0103] In use, the needle tip 126 of the surgical instrument 112 may be used to form a puncture in a patient's issue. As shown in FIG. 8, a surgeon or other user may align the needle tip 126 with the target lumen of the patient's body (in this case, a patient's trachea 300) and toggle the power switch 150 to energize the sensor circuit formed by the microprocessor 230, the conductor shaft 164, and the outer cannula 136. Initially, when the needle tip 126 is out of contact with the patient's tissue, the circuit is open and the resistance value effectively infinite.

[0104] Once the needle tip 126 is properly aligned, it may be advanced into contact with the patient's tissue and through the anterior wall 306. When the needle tip 126 engages the patient's tissue, the circuit is closed, and the resistance value measured by the microprocessor 230 enters a predetermined range. In the illustrative embodiment, the range is between 1 kilo-ohm and 100 kilo-ohms. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments other ranges of resistance values may be used. The controller 230 activates a timer when the resistance value enters the predetermined range, and after a predetermined amount of time, the microprocessor 230 activates the LED 274. In the illustrative embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is 200 milliseconds. When the microprocessor 230 activates the LED 274 in the illustrative embodiment, the microprocessor 230 is programmed to consecutively toggle the 13 terminal high and low, thereby causing the LED 274 to flash on and off to indicate to the user that the instrument 112 is armed.

[0105] In other embodiments, other sensors may be used to determine when the instrument 112 is properly positioned and ready to be armed. For example, the instrument 112 may include a pressure sensor that measures the pressure on the needle tip such that when the pressure surpasses the amount of pressure associated with penetrating the patient's tissue, the controller would activate the indicator and arm the instrument 112. In other embodiments, the instrument 112 may also include a cancel switch that the user may toggle to disarm the instrument 112.

[0106] As the needle 126 is advanced into the target lumen, the conductor plate 164 remains engaged with the patient's tissue. When the needle 126 reaches, and protrudes into, the target lumen (e.g., the trachea 300, esophagus, or spinal column) as shown in FIG. 9, the resistance at the conductor plate 164 changes sharply. In the case of a trachea, the sensor circuit effectively opens. When the resistance value passes a predetermined threshold, and the microprocessor 230 is programmed to switch the 13 terminal continuously high, thereby turning the indicator LED 274 continuously on to inform the user that the needle 126 has reached the lumen. In the illustrative embodiment, the threshold is 100 kilo-ohms or greater.

[0107] The microprocessor 230 is also programmed to switch the 17 terminal to high after a preset delay, thereby activating the relay switch 290. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments the preset delay may be omitted and the switch 290 activated immediately. When the switch 290 is activated, it connects the linear actuator 180 to the battery 152, thereby energizing the actuator. As described above, the actuator 180 is operable to advance its output shaft 182 into contact with the locking arm 184 and causing the locking arm 184 to pivot. As the arm 184 pivots, the end of the rod 204 disengages from the sleeve 208 and moves toward the center of the aperture 206. When the rod 204 disengages from the sleeve 208, the spring 202 urges the mounting bracket 192 in the direction indicated by arrow 224 in FIG. 6. As the mounting bracket 192 moves, the needle tip 126 retracts in direction shown in FIG. 9, away from the opposite wall 302 of the patient's trachea 300 and out of the incision 304, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0108] In other embodiments, the actuator may be embodied as an electric motor, electromagnet, or other electromechanical device operable to move the locking arm 184 within a sufficient period of time after the microprocessor detects penetration of the lumen. In the illustrative embodiment, the actuator 180 is operable to move the locking arm 184 such that the needle is retracted in 100 milliseconds.

[0109] Referring now to FIG. 11, another embodiment of electrical circuitry 348 is illustrated. The electrical circuitry 348 is identical to the circuitry 148 described above, except for the use of two 3 VDC batteries and the omission of a voltage regulator and snubber diode. As shown in FIG. 11, the anodes of the two 3 VDC batteries 352 are coupled to one terminal 260 of the power switch 150. The other terminal 262 of switch 150 is coupled to the 5 V terminal of the circuit 232 and to the anode of the Power Indicator LED 264 of the LEDs 146.

[0110] It should be appreciated that although the concept of detecting a lumen in a patient's body has been described above in reference to surgical instruments that may be used to create punctures in a patient's tissue, the techniques and concepts described above may be incorporated into other surgical instruments such that entry into a lumen or movement between various tissue types may be detected. For example, any surgical cutting tool such as, for example, a cutting blade, reamer, drill, or other instrument may include circuitry to detect fluctuating levels of electrical resistance and thereby determine when a distal end of the cutting tool has entered a lumen. Other surgical instruments such as, for example, guides, trials, probes, and so forth may also include circuitry to detect fluctuating levels of electrical resistance and thereby determine when a distal end of the surgical instrument has entered a lumen.

[0111] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.

[0112] There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the method, apparatus, and system described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the method, apparatus, and system of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the method, apparatus, and system that incorporate one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.